Rodrigo Duterte, the former President of the Philippines, is in hot water. He has been charged with serious crimes against humanity due in large part to his brutal and controversial war on drugs. Even though he’s almost 11,500 kilometers away in The Hague, he has been re-elected mayor of Davao City. His son, Sebastian Duterte, currently serves as the city’s vice-mayor and will take over mayoral responsibilities during Rodrigo’s absence. This political maneuvering raises questions about the Duterte family’s future power. At the same time, they have to deal with constant one-ups and power grappling from the Marcos clan.
The backdrop of these developments includes the Duterte family’s attempts to secure their political legacy while navigating a fracturing relationship with the Marcos family, which intensified shortly after the 2022 elections. Sara Duterte, Rodrigo’s daughter, is proving to be the most viable 2028 presidential candidate. This makes every choice their family faces one of enormously higher stakes. Many analysts have cautioned that if Sara is convicted, she would be precluded from holding public office again, which would further complicate the family’s dream.
Rodrigo Duterte’s Legal Troubles
The legal challenges facing Rodrigo Duterte have attracted far greater international interest. Those are the least of his worries. He’s now under serious accusation for his administration’s brutal drug war, which has led to thousands of unnecessary deaths. His recent election as mayor of Davao City while residing in The Hague raises eyebrows and highlights the complexities of Philippine politics.
“The running joke is work from Hague, not work from home,” – Richard Heydarian
Despite being out of the country, Duterte’s political influence remains intact, as evidenced by his son’s election as vice-mayor. The bright-eyed Sebastian Duterte will take over mayoral duties in his father’s absence, staying the course for the family’s political dynasty.
The Future of Sara Duterte
Politically, the Philippines is experiencing tumultuous change. Sara Duterte emerging as the leading candidate for vice president IOS, Sara Duterte, during a recent visit to Tagum City in Mindanao. She has long been a favorite in the polls and is considered the heir-apparent to her father’s contentious but hugely popular political dynasty. Analysts speculate that she could emerge as a formidable candidate for the presidential election in 2028.
That shadow on her journey—the threat of her father’s legal woes—adds a new challenge. Though a conviction against Rodrigo would be mostly insignificant for him, it could have long-term implications for Sara’s political ambitions. The Duterte family publicly addresses these issues, rallying support to protect their interests and calling for measures to prevent Sara from facing impeachment.
“Marcos’s best chance is to get a coalition together to impeach Sara Duterte, and if he fails to do that, he’s going to be quite in trouble at the 2028 election,” – Richard Heydarian
Power Struggles with the Marcos Clan
The political rivalry between the Marcos and Duterte families is intensifying. Both families are openly and viciously vying against the other for political power and dominance in Philippine politics. That’s why, according to analysts, as many as five Senate seats could be won by candidates loyal to Rodrigo Duterte. This electoral strategy is considered by many to be key to keeping their firepower ahead of an increasingly toxic political environment.
As Richard Heydarian points out, some of those senators are already beginning to cave. Their greatest fear should be the Marcos family’s possible resurgence. He stated, “Senators who have ambitions down the road in 2028 … seeing the ‘House of Marcos’ potentially sinking, they are already soft-peddling, so we may not even see a trial.” This is part of a larger trend that shows how political ambition can override accountability.
It remains to be seen, but with elections and court cases in the near future for both families, the political balance could change drastically. Whether the current power struggle will result in changing political loyalties and an overhaul of governance structures remains to be seen.
